i believe in design process

what is improv?
rules
Agreement
Spontaneity
Listening
why improv?
The way we speak.
The way we use things.
Interactions are
improvisational.
building on...
Brenda Laurel – Design & Theatre
Eric Dishman – Informance
Kristian Samsarian – Role Playing
brenda laurel
‘The more we live with
embodied experiences in our
lives, the more we become
mobile, as people get connected
to the world around us, you
begin to need methods based
on improv, because it is about
that embodied experience.’
kristian simsarian
‘Don’t underestimate
the power of a group
experience. We’ll have
a shared understanding
of what this thing is, that
is beyond language.’
not just improv
Methods from lateral
thinking, social pscyhology,
music, and design.
adapted improv
Not performing,
but playing games
to solve problems.
solution
who?
Service that helps
designers, their clients,
& users to work together.
what is it?
Service
Props & Kit
Games & Board
Notation tools
Collaborative method
what is it?
Playing games
to solve problems
how it works
1. establish goals
Clear goals.
Custom games or props.
Identify main advocate.
2. set–up the space
Demarcation tape.
DND sign. Stage signs.
Ready flipcharts.
3. unfold the kit
3. unfold the kit
4. explain the rules
1. Agreement
5. explain the rules
1. Agreement
2. Listening
6. explain the rules
1. Agreement
2. Listening
3. Spontaneity
7. warm–up
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8. choose design phase
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design process?
8. choose design phase
Select a game
(Choose a goal)
9. Improvise
Use narrative or
thematic elements from
design problem or context.
Create scenarios.
Explore value of ideas fast.
service qualities
service qualities
1. Personality
 Begin & End with Objects Deconstruct Performance Testing Exposure
Interaction Designer Develop, 5-10 mins, 4-6 players Warm-up, 3–5 mins, 4–10 players
Ideate, 3–5 mins, 2–6 players goal: To analyse an object or environment
flow: Player A performs a simple action with an object. flow: Using an existing scenario, set the stage, decide goal: To develop fast concepts; build
goal: To develop fast concepts; build Player then repeats the action, this time calling out “begin”
based interaction or process flow. teamwork, and explore roles in the group
where everything should be. Assign roles and relationships.
teamwork, and explore roles in the group Great for finding bugs. Part of a whole
each time fresh contact is made with the object, and “End” If you are testing a scenario, take it in slices. As soon as it
when each detail is completed. Player repeats the action starts to break down, the audience must call bug! Iterate activity (what)
again, this time doing it as fast as possible, without calling the scene, changing the variables as you do. Change rela-
out begin and end. tionships, Who, Where, and Why. Warm-up,
5 mins,
suggestions: The result is akin to a stop-frame movie. suggestions: This can be used as a longer exercise to 3-15 players.
Coach the player to begin and end with great burst of develop and ideate on an existing scenario, by combining
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the experience of a device or service. Take the kit’s floor goal: To bring all the ele-
ments together and under-
shapes or make new ones. Use prototypes in conjunction
stand the process of improv.
with the velcro props to help suggest all the elements in the
Introducing What.
test. Performance testing can be done on the road, or in the
studio.

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design improv
design improv design improv design improv design improv

Interaction Designer
flow: One player describes their design, and the second
player asks them questions about it, suggesting and helping
with the creation of this object. Each player can describe
new attributes and the observer or client can make obser-
vations about it, imbuing it with new qualities, and trans-
forming its purpose/ context.
suggestions: How is it made? Is it big? Was it vacuum
formed, cast in hot wax, lathed – show us the process. This
game can be done with two teams - make the two objects
interact
Begin & End with Objects Deconstruct
Develop, 5-10 mins, 4-6 players
goal: To analyse an object
flow: Summarise your design problem in 3 key words.
or environment based interaction or
Using flip–chart and pens place each word at the head of
process flow. Great for finding bugs.
a flip–chart. Give everyone post its, and using W stickers
as prompts, run through Who, Where, Why, When, and What
one at a time.
suggestions: You do not have to use all the W stickers,
choose 3 that best help you to address the problem area.
Use idea hats instead of flip–charts for the random factor.
Follow this exercise with Recombination.
Performance Testing
Deliver, 5-10 mins, 2-6 players
goal: To test a scenario, system flow, or service
structure through performance, and find the bugs.
Exposure
flow: Split the group in half. Each group must observe
the other. One is the stage, one is the audience. No one
must laugh. Once discomfort is reached, assign a simple
task, counting the post-its on the wall. Now swop the groups.
The audience now are the stage players, and vice-versa.
suggestions: When both groups have been on
stage, question them on what they have experienced.
Don’t put words in their mouth. They should discover
that the activity helped relieve the stage fright. How did
the actors look when on stage? Ask specific questions:
How did your stomach feel? Avoid generalisations.
Part of a whole activity (who)
flow: One person goes onto stage and begins a simple
activity. The next player to enter must assume a character
and show their relationship to the person already on stage
through the action they are performing. The first player must
accept this relationship, and agree. Keep adding players.
suggestions: It is important for players to avoid
telling us who they are, instead they must show through
their actions and interactions with each other. Audience, did
the players show us the relationship? Did they agree? In
this game, try using the pentagonal role cards.

design improv design improv

design improv design improv design improv
designed qualities
2. Group participation
designed qualities
3. Accepting offers
& agreement
designed qualities
5. Owning the process.
designed qualities
6. Focus on goals
case studies
case study 1: book sharing
Pei Yu. Service design IDII

aims:
Develop more scenarios
and refine the concept.
case study 1: book sharing
Pei Yu. Service design IDII

process:
Created new scenarios
with Voiceover.
Iterated and improved
Pei’s existing scenarios
with Performance testing.
case study 1: book sharing
Pei Yu. Service design IDII

outcome:
Found the bugs within
30 seconds of first test.
Generated new scenarios
of use based on improved
service structure.
case study 1: book sharing
‘When you are making a
video (scenario), you don’t
think about what you will
need until it’s too late.’ Pei
case study 2: live|work
Quadro business
networking services

aims:
Explore and ideate concepts
for a business incubator in
NE England.
case study 2: live|work
Quadro business
networking services

process:
Warm–up games including
Exposure and Catch.
Followed by Deconstruction
& Reconstruction.
case study 2: live|work
Quadro business
networking services

outcome:
1. Church of
peer–to–peer credit (flat
credit heirarchy).
case study 2: live|work
Quadro business
networking services

outcome:
2. Equipment
sharing service.
case study 2: live|work
‘I was interested to hear what
the process was and how it
can be applied to the design
process... it was definitely an
engaging proposition. I really
like the idea that a design
consultancy could hire out
the improv service’
Athena Anagnostopoulos.
case study 3: wild watches
Mattel games project IDII:
Vinay, Pei, Aram.

aims:
Refine concepts. Create
games for children.
case study 3: wild watches
process:
1) What can you do with
your wrist? 2) Devising
game rules. 3) Refining ideas.
4) Generating situations for
use of the watch. 5) Getting
into the mindset of kids.
6) Detailing experience.
case study 3: wild watches
outcome:
Process defined the product.
Improv helped refine from 5
ideas to 2.
case study 3: wild watches
‘The session allowed our
minds to float free, and
break away from our
preconceived notions.’ Vinay.
thesis process
thesis process
Learning how through
prototype process. Tested
& iterated idea internally.
thesis process
Tested commercially with
Live|Work & Hasbro Games.
summary
summary
Service delivers real-time
situation based experience.
summary
Collaborative, participatory
design method.

Re-balance the relationship

between designers &
non-designers.
summary
Not acting, but improvising.
summary
Tested internally
Validated professionally
Tested Commercially
next steps
what’s next ?
Service Platform
Evolve
Business – Design Council
Improv Lite®